Welcome to the Governors Page

What is a School Governor?
As members of the governing body of Long Crendon School, we work very much in the background, supporting the busy day to day life of our thriving, very successful and very happy school.

Children are at the very centre of our school community – and rightly so: they are the reason for the very existence of the community, and they are the focus and priority in all that we do. The parents, staff and the head teacher then form successive layers of support for the children.

The governors form the outermost layer of support, furthest removed from the child in the middle of the day to day life of the school, but nonetheless we too have an important role to play in the education and welfare of the children. In fact our main aim is to maintain and improve the standards of education in the school.

If you wish to contact any of the School Governors please speak to Lesley Leith in the School office.

If you wish to know when Governing Body meetings are taking place or want access to any minutes please contact the School Office.

Our Current Long Crendon School Governors

Anna Bowden

Deputy Head

As Deputy Head, my day can be very varied. I currently teach the Year 6 class, which keeps me on my toes and in touch with all the latest curriculum changes and requirements. As part of my teaching role, I co-ordinate Music and PSHE within the school.

I work closely with Mrs Stamp to direct the school vision and implement it across the school with all staff, through performance management and new initiatives. As well as my day to day responsibilities in school, as a governor I attend a number of different committees: Curriculum and Resources. I feel that it is very important to ensure continuity for the children in our school and that we maintain strong community links; as a result I am also an active member of the school’s PTA.

I have worked in education for over ten years and started at Long Crendon in 2012. I love the variety that this job can bring - there is never a dull moment! Children are at the heart of all that we do and I thoroughly enjoy watching them grow and develop, knowing that I have played a part in their lives.

Long Crendon School

Helen Smith

Co-opted Governor

Having been on the Governing Body for twenty years now, I have helped to structure and oversee an ever changing scene as well as maintain some stability, where the each child’s learning and well being have remained key. My two sons attended the school and my family lives in the village.

My focus on the Governing Body is as Chair of the Teaching and Learning Committee and the School Travel Plan Working Group. I also sit on the Finance and Personnel committees and on the Eco Schools Working Group.To these, and the whole Governing Body, I can bring my current experience as an Early Years Consultant, previous teaching experience as a science teacher and my fascination of how children learn - both in school and through their wider experiences.

As part of the School Development Plan, I am the Early Yeas Governor. Through getting involved directly, as well as at a strategic level, governors can enable children, families and staff to work together to build strong foundations for learning and exploration.

Long Crendon School

Howard Beveridge

Vice-Chair of Governors

Having spent 25+ years in business (mainly marketing and commercial roles) I am keen to give something back to the community.

My children went to Long Crendon school (they’re now at secondary school) and loved it – I’m very keen to support it where I can and hopefully add value and help maintain its excellence rating. I am also in the middle of studying (year long course) to be a qualified School Business Manager and think this will be very helpful as it will fuse my commercial experience with understanding the challenges facing schools and therefore where I can most help.

Long Crendon School

Sophie Penrose

Co-opted Governor

I became a Co-opted Governor in June 2014 because I feel passionate about Education. I have lived in the village for seven years and have four children, three of whom are currently attending the school. I bring a range of experience to the Governing Body, particularly in the areas of finance and supporting children with a range of additional needs. I sit on the Finance and Curriculum Standards Committees and am the link Governor for Art, DT and Music.

Long Crendon School

Liz Guerin

Vice-Chair of Governors

I became a Governor in 2011 because I wanted to do some volunteering in my local community. My husband, Mark and I had moved to Long Crendon a couple of years earlier and I wanted to feel part of the community which is not always easy when you work full time and don’t have children as we didn’t when I first registered an interest in becoming a Governor.

When the role was advertised it jumped out to me because it was an opportunity to contribute to something at the heart of our village community and because as an HR professional I passionately believe in education in the widest sense and the importance of learning and growing throughout life. I loved the idea of helping our school be the best it can be because I am personally very grateful for the opportunities, happy memories and strong start in life a good education in a great school has given me. Now that I have a daughter at the school I want the same for her. I also thought the skills and experience I have gained in my 20 years in HR would enable me to make a useful contribution.

I chair the Personnel Committee and am the Co-Ordinator for Literacy. My daughter, Georgia is in Year 1.

Long Crendon School

Jane Crawshaw

Parent Governor

I joined the Governing Body as a Parent Governor in November 2016 because of a passion for seeing young people develop inquiring and creative minds. I pursue this passion in my working life as a University Lecturer and Historian. My research explores the sophisticated systems of public health developed in Renaissance Italy. I hold an MA from the University of Edinburgh and an MPhil and PhD from the University of Cambridge. I have worked at the University of St Andrews and joined Oxford Brookes University in 2009. In 2011, along with a colleague, I received a teaching award for University learning outside the classroom from the Higher Education Academy.

The more I work in education, the more convinced I am of the essential role of the early years’ provision and I am a particular supporter of Long Crendon School’s emphasis on Outdoor Learning. I love to see children finding out about the people and places of the past through architecture and heritage sites, as well as enjoying the fun and wonder of the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside on its own terms.
I have two children and my daughter is currently in Foundation Class.

Beyond my work and spending time with my family, I love reading, engaging with art and travelling to the seaside or to Italy (and the Italian seaside best of all). I am particularly interested in equal opportunities and experiences of education for children of both genders and from all backgrounds.

Having only recently joined the Governing Body, I am not yet a member of any of the sub committees.

Long Crendon School

Laura Barker

Staff Governor

I have lived in Long Crendon for 15 years and both my daughters attended Long Crendon School. I have had numerous links to the school during that time from Co-Chairing the Pre-School to setting up the Breakfast/After School Club along with Ms Jennings and the Pre-School staff and I was also a part of the school PTA for a number of years. I am now a part-time TA at Long Crendon school mainly working in Year 3.

As I have not long joined I haven’t attached myself to any committee as such but have been to the last Teaching and Learning Committee meeting and attended all the Governor meetings to date.

Long Crendon School

Jenny Hutt

Co-opted Governor

I became a co-opted parent governor in the Autumn term 2016, I have a passionate interest in children’s education. I am interested in all aspects of children’s learning with a keen interest in personnel social health education and learning outside the classroom to enrich the children’s experiences while they are at school to make memories.

I have lived in Long Crendon for over ten years and have experience of working in a range of public sector organisations.

Long Crendon School

Tim Kidd

Chair of Governors

I first became engaged with the governing body when my two daughters were pupils at the school, although they have long since left. My eldest daughter has just started to read Chemistry at University and my youngest is doing her GCSEs.

My membership of the governing body started in 2008 and I am currently its chair. Amongst my responsibilities, I am a member of the Finance, Premises, Performance Management and the recently formed Community Relations committees. I also have responsibility for monitoring the school development plan for science.

Some people ask me why I am still involved with the school. It’s simple; it gives me the opportunity to work with a great group of people both in the governing body and the wider school staff who are determined to give all the children who come to the school the best education possible to prepare them for their future lives.

Outside of the specifics of the governor role, I work in a market research agency based in London, have lived in Shabbington for over twenty years (the village was in catchment when my daughters were of primary school age) and try to keep fit by cycling and horse riding.

Long Crendon School

Sue Stamp

Head Teacher

After completing my degree and a PGCE in London, I worked for several years for Selfridges in London, joining them as a Graduate trainee and studying retail management before working as a manager in Executive Customer Relations and the Mail Order division.
I have now been teaching for over 27 years, 10 of which were spent overseas in Africa. I have three daughters, two of whom are also teachers, which leads to some interesting and informative conversations!
I am passionate about Values Education and Learning Outside the Classroom, and I am delighted that during the time I have been at Long Crendon we have been able to embrace and develop these. I am looking forward to developing Growth Mindset this year.
I love being Headteacher at Long Crendon School and am privileged to work with such wonderful staff and children and supportive parents and Governors.

Long Crendon School

Candy Cozens

Community Governor

We moved to the Village in 1974 and our 3 children, over a period of about 18 years, have all attended Long Crendon School. During their time here, I helped out in their classrooms, as well as swimming & PE lessons & at one time I even ran the school football team!! I have also been a lunch time supervisor and parent governor here.

I worked in our Village Library for nearly 12 years till I retired and have been a Parish Councilor for about 7 years. Last year saw me return to the school run with one of my grandsons, who is now in year 1. So much for retirement!!!!

Long Crendon School

Please click below for the attendance of our governors at meetings for the year 2018 / 2019: